Rushing downstairs from my room, my stomach audibly grumbling, I blurt out, "Ai! Tell me where the bus stop is!" Suddenly, a hologram map materializes before me. Surprisingly, the nearest bus stop isn't that far, according to Ai. It should take me around 5 minutes, leaving a precious 2 minutes to spare. 'Sounds impossible, but hey, I'm impossible.' I chuckle to myself.
It seems I won't need Ai's voice navigation, as there's a stream of other students also rushing or strolling in the same direction. Although weirdly, none seem to be in as much of a hurry as I am. Nevertheless, I must maintain my speed.
Hastening through the diverse student body, made up of various species, I feel strangely alone amidst the crowd. This sense of solitude is somewhat familiar, yet it carries a peculiar nuance.
"Ah! Focus, Adam, hurry up," I gasped, taken aback by the sudden realization of this odd feeling.
The bustling atmosphere persists, with a variety of species moving at their own pace. Taking a deep breath, I hastened my steps, eager to catch my bus to the Academy of Esclave and embark on the day's adventures.
Swiftly dodging other students without causing any trouble, I'm shocked to find the bus stop consists of vast, different floating rectangle boxes. "So, this is the bus," I mumble to myself, struck by the sight. It's my first time seeing a bus, well, after my lost memory, I believe.
"Okay, Adam, no time to wait. Only 1 minute left. Please, let me make it," I murmur, a silent prayer under my breath.
As I make my way through the maze of various buses, confused by the assortment of different routes, I struggle to find mine – N07. Losing hope, I desperately search for the right one amidst the jumble of buses.
As despair looms, buses marked N07 come into view. Without hesitation, I rush toward them, culminating in a desperate leap. Entering in haste, I collide with the nearest person, their identity lost in my depleted stamina. As I gasp for breath, a sudden punch launches towards my face, nearly breaking my jaw.
'Crack.' I fall to the ground near the closing door, the intense pain clouding my thoughts. 'My jaw!' Twisting it back into place, I gaze up at the man who struck me, with weird hair adorned with tree branches.
"You trashy human dare to touch me!! Haha, time to break some bones."
"Oh glaring at me! You've got some nerve." He gives a cold smile, capturing the attention of every different species present, all seemingly enjoying the spectacle. As I attempt to stand, a punch strikes my stomach.
'Thwack.' 'Ah!!' I want to vomit, but only dry heaves follow. He is relentless in his assault, breaking bones and kicking my shoulder.
'Fk, fk, f**k.' I want to run, to avenge, to kill. Clenching my fists, I endure the relentless beating. 'Remember, Adam, not now. Bear it. One day, I will kill this bastard!!' Hiding my blood-filled eye, I know any wrong move will bring trouble.
Suddenly, a voice intervenes, "Stop it, Gale. You're gonna get a penalty for beating trash," a woman's voice with a similar species trait.
"Ah! You're right, Kai. Lol, beating this trash will get me in trouble. I don't want to deal with it on the first day. You're the lucky one; I'm giving you mercy. Now say thank you. However, next time I see you, I will treat you a lot better. Haha!" Gale declares.
"Oh god, Gale. I left you for a minute, and you nearly killed a useless being," Kai sighs, guiding him back to his seat.
Haa! Breathing intensely, Gale, Gale, Gale… One day, I vowed, he would know true hell. Ha~ I've come to realize that I'm the kind of person who always settles scores. 'Haha,' I laugh internally as I memorize his face and name.
Summoning all my strength, I attempt to stand, broken bones and internal injuries tormenting me as I limp toward the end of the bus.
After all that, the only place where other groups of humans are present. Among this what I found weird was that I was able to overhear whispers of others without difficulty.
"See this trash, how lucky is he to be alive?" "Lol, useless." "puny guy"…..
Each whispered word cut through me, a silent symphony of rejection. Yet, the most painful notes were played by my fellow humans, their hushed judgments echoing louder than any alien disapproval. The realization that my kind could turn away so easily stung far deeper than the loneliness itself.
"Let's ignore him." "He's not worth it. I don't want to get involved." "Just don't make eye contact; he'll be gone in a few days." "Just go away; we don't want someone who made a ranked species angry."...
Sigh. Gale is ranked, and due to my annoying ranked being, fellow humans were scared of getting involved, fearing repercussions. The whispers intensified my sense of loneliness. 'Whether I hide or not, I will always be an outsider,' Upon arrival, I discovered a lone seat in the corner, I ruminated as I sat in an empty seat.
Hmm, my bones and posture improved, and the pain decreased rapidly. 'Is this my ability healing?' It seems I can heal faster than I thought. Hmm, I'll heal in roughly 30 minutes, coinciding with my arrival at the academy. Well, at least that's one positive thing. My healing ability is incredible, but the emptiness remains, especially an empty stomach.
What an unlucky day to start.